So, when you read bios that start like this one from amg (http://www.allmusic.com/artist/al-kooper-mn0000509524):"Al Kooper, by rights, should be regarded as one of the giants of '60s rock, not far behind the likes of Bob Dylan and Paul Simon in importance."What is the legacy of this guy as performer, composer, producer? The above is clearly overblown, but his work as a sideman is solid. So, that leaves his lesser known work. I haven't read a full-bio and probably won't, but would be curious to hear if anyone around here can add anything, such as other albums to check out or FZ connections... Projections was produced by Tom Wilson... Goin' Down Louisiana on Flanders/Kalb/Katz, Etc. is also done by FZ on "An Evening with Frank Zappa and Captain Beefheart".

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Don't Be Stupid Unless You Want To

Al Kooper does deserve a lot of praise for some of the albums he's produced, played on, or where his. The guys been/is a real talent. His name is on a lot of my record collection. Still don't know that much about him though.

Arkay, He played on Long Hot Summer Night on Hendrix's Electric LadyLand

Yeah, it would be cool to compile other albums in which he did a tune or 2. Its my understanding that he worked that way with the Rolling Stones, like "You Can't Always Get What You Want".

sleeping in a jar wrote:

Highly Recommended.

I agree. I also think that this multi-name thing that they did on so many projects sorta fucked up his career. Look how amg lists that Super Session album:http://www.allmusic.com/album/super-session-mw0000190678"Bloomfield-Kooper-Stills / Mike Bloomfield / Al Kooper / Stephen Stills". Then on "The Live Adventures of Michael Bloomfield and Al Kooper", they announce that "This is Super Session with some alterations, we'll let Al Kooper explain". He then tells about various meetings of band members. Too bad they didn't just call themselves Super Session and leave it at that, people might remember the band.

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Don't Be Stupid Unless You Want To

Hey Arkay, if you're interested in Al Kooper you really might want to check out his book "Backstage Passes And Backstabbing Bastards". Hell, you might want to check it out even if you're not interested in him, it's that good. He originally wrote it in the 1970's and it was out of print for years. He recently updated it and it's available again. This guy has a million stories to tell and he tells them well. It's one of the most entertaining rock memoirs I've ever read.

Highly recommended. Al has a great story about producing Lynard Skynard's 1st lp ( the ONLY reason I'll even listen to it ) and bringing a Hendrix guitar with him to a session. Seems the lead guitarist from the above band , I can't remember who , bent over to pick the guitar up and Al told him something like ' you're not even worthy of the sweat that's on that guitar '.

Another gem was reading when Al heard ' This Diamond Ring ' ( a song Al wrote ) by Gary Lewis & the playboys. Al was said to be pissed. You should really hear Al's version.

' Kooper Session ' with Shuggie is incredible for a 15 yr old guitarist. Shuggie STILL rocks.

Al has to be my favorite worst singer and one of the best writer / arranger / producers in the business.

I heard an interview with Al Kooper yesterday. He will be performing in the area in a week or so. I don't think I'll be able to go. But, he had some interesting things to say.

He's recently finished a Mike Bloomfield box set that should be released in February. I think he said 3 cds and 1 dvd.

He's currently working on a box set sampler of his most famous material and never-released material. He went on a bit about the many sessions he worked on that never got released or had out-takes that never got released. Also, interesting remixed stuff, such as a band-only mix of Like a Rolling Stone.

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Don't Be Stupid Unless You Want To

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